James Lee Dickey: An Analysis of One African-American's Leadership in Jim Crow Texas

Radicalism

The 1930s brought a more radical flair to the African American situation. Many families became homeless and teenagers left their families so as not to be a burden. Hobo camps and hitching a ride in an empty train car were common. In 1931 a group of 9 Negro boys fought with 4 white boys over riding a box car on the track between Scottsboro, Alabama and Paint Rock, Alabama. None were over the age of 19. Upon losing, the white teenagers complained to law enforcement and two girls that accompanied the group claimed the black boys had raped them. In an effort to avoid a lynching, the black boys were charged with rape and brought to trial within a few short days. Though the NAACP came to the Scottsboro Boys aid, the organization was not keen on representing them since they were unkempt, illiterate, and poorly mannered. Publicity from this case would not benefit blacks in the South. Even though a thorough examination of the girls revealed no signs of rape, 8 of the boys were quickly convicted. (The other boy was charged with assaulting a law enforcement official.) Here, the story takes a different twist. Overnight, the Communist-controlled International Labor Defense organized an international protest against the boys’ convictions. With the assistance of the ILD, the convictions for 7 of the 8 boys were reduced to jail time rather than execution. Berating the lackluster defense of the Scottsboro Boys, the Communist Party emerged as a champion for African-Americans.

This page has paths:

This page references: